Folding-machine.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

G. J. DORMANDY. FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARRY J. DORMANDY, OF TROY, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHIRT & COLLARCOMPANY, OF TROY, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF NEl/V YORK.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed June 8, 1904. Serial No. 211,609.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, GARRY J. DomiANDY, a citizen of the United States,residing in Troy, county of Rensselaer, State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for inturning or infolding the edges ofblanks for cufi's, collars, or like articles, and more particularly tomechanisms and parts for effect ing the folding and pressing of thefolds of blanks to constitute the two parts of a cuff or analogousarticle preparatory to sewing such parts together.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to produce a machinethat will afford a more simple construction and operation, and

more particularly by such an arrangement that a single member or partmay be made to fill the oilice of a die or templet for defining thefolds of the blanks and the further oifice of cooperating in theproduction of a suitably-powerful creasing pressure upon the folds ofthe blanks which lie between the infolders and the bed or support.

Other objects will appear during the description hereinafter following.

I will first describe a folding-machine embodying my invention and thenpoint out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top view of afolding-machine embodying my invention, the particular machineillustrated being one adapted for the infolding of cuff-blanks havingtwo square and two rounded corners and the parts being in the positionthat they occupy at the moment that the extending edges of the blankshave been inturned. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the die,infolders, and a portion of the bed, the parts being in the sameposition illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section similarto Fig. 2, but showing also pressure-producing mechanisms or connectionsand the parts being in a different position namely, that stage ofoperation during which the pressure is being applied to the folds of theblank.

Similar letters of reference are employed to designate correspondingparts in the several figures of the drawings.

A designates the bed of a folding-machine embodying my invention, whichbed is intended to serve as a support for the blanks to be infolded insaid machine. The bed and infolding mechanism illustrated in theparticular machine herein are, generally speaking, of a well-known type,such as illustrated in several prior patents granted to me, and whichtherefore need not be described in very great detail. The foldingmechanism comprises a series of infolding-plates B B B B B, which arefitted to move inwardly and outwardly relatively to the blanks on thebed of the machine by any suitable means, such as the following:Slideways O C O, which may be integral with or ad justably or otherwiseconnected to the bed of the machine, are arranged in substantiallyradial directions, and within each slideway is provided a slide 0, atthe inner end of which is connected a suitably-heavy infoldersupportingpart O. The infolderplates may be connected to the members O in anydesired mannersuch, for example, as that shown in Fig. 1, in which theinfolderplates corresponding to the rounded corners of a cuff arerigidly connected, so as to receive diagonal inward and outwardmovements, whereas the infolderplates corresponding to the squarecorners of a cuff are each suitably connected with two of the members C,so that such corner-plates may be caused to move inwardly first in onedirection and then at right angles to the original direction, dependingupon the order of operation of the slides 0.

A convenient infolder-actriating device is I the oscillating ring D,provided with a handle b, which is convenient for operating the samewhen the machine is not operated by power. Intermediate of theoscillating ring D and the slides 0 are a series of cams comprising inthe present instance cam-plates E, the eccentric cam-slots e of whichare preferably mounted in such manner that upon a continued movement ofthe oscillating ring in one direction the infolders will be caused tooperate successively in order of time, this being a well-known means forinfolding of locked corner-blanks.

The ring D in its normal or original position should be moved to theextreme right, and it will be clearly seen that the first move-. ment ofthe handle (Z to the left will first effect an inward movement of theslide 0 at the left hand which remains idle for a period of Lincontinued movement of the handle (7, while the slide 0 at the front (thebottom of Fig. 1) next comes into play, followed by the inward movementof the slide 0 at the right-hand side. This is the position in which theparts are shown in Fig. 1. Examination of the cam slots 0 of that figurewill disclose that each is provided with an additional cam surface,whereby on a continued movement of the ban-- dle (Z beyond the positionshown in Fig. 1 all of the slides c, and thereby the infolders D, willbe given an additional inward movement. This is for a purpose which willhereinafter appear.

The die or templet illustrated in the present machine is one in whichthe edge portions of the plates which define the folds of the blanks arecapable of being withdrawn from the folds after the formation of thelatter, but without the necessity of removing the blanks from the bed ofthe machine. The expanding and contracting die is a convenient form foreffecting this purpose.

The expanding and contracting die shown in the figures of the drawingsis of a not unusual type in that it is provided with a heavy or stockportion G, beneath which are movably mounted, by means of(.lownwardly-extending hangers 72., the die or templet plates H. Thedie-stock G is mounted at the forward end of the swinging arm F, whichby reason of the pivots or hinges f at the rear of the machineconstitutes a convenient means whereby the die or templet may beelevated above the bed or lowered to bring it in contact with the blanksupon the bed, and the arm F may conveniently be provided with acounterweight F to facilitate the elevation of the die. The hangers itmay be connected to the stock portion G of the die or templet throughany suitable guiding means, such as diagonal slideways, in a well-knownmanner. To communicate inward and outward movements to the hangers maybe provided an operatinghandle J, which is centrally pivoted to thediestock (i and connected through links y'to two reversely-movingcam-plates K, the cam-slots of which engage with pins b, that extendupwardly from the hangers /t.

The mechanism already described would be su'l'licient for the mereiufolding of cuffblanks if it were not desired to press the same uponthe bed of the machine before removal therefrom. If it were attempted tocollapse the die by means of the handle J after theinturning of theedges of the blank over the edges of the die and thereafter to expandthe die-plates to their normal or outer position and bring themdownwardly upon the infolders while the latter are in the position towhich they are moved during the infolding operation, it will be foundthat owing to the necessary thinness of the fold-defining dicplates Hand their resultant flexibility a suitably-powerful creasing pressurecould not be brought to bear upon the folds of the blank beneath theinfolders through the instrumentality of the die. Practice has shownthat a very heavy creasing pressure is necessary to produce an effectivecreasing of the folds of the blank, and for ordinary work about one tonpressure is considered to be about the smallest desirable pressure.

In order that the die or templet of the present machine may be adaptableto transmit such high pressure to the blanks through the infolders, lhave taken advantage of the existence of a heavy portion of the templetor hanger slightly back of or within the thin and flexible edge portionsof the plates H and have provided means (already described) whereby thein folders may be given an additional extent of inward movement afterthe withdrawal of the die and its elevation above the infolders. Theresult of this is that the in'folders may be brought into such positionthat they come directly beneath the heavy portion of the templet withinthe flexible portions of the templet-plates ,H. Inspection of Figs. 2and 3 will make this clear. in Fig. 2 the infolders are at the farthestpossible inward movement that they can be given during the in foldingoperation. As already explained, a further inward movement is desiredduring the pressing operation, and this stage is illustrated .in Fig. 3.In this position if a suitably-powerful downward force is brought tobear upon the die or templetas, for example, through its support andarmsuch pressure will be communicated without loss through the heavyportions of the templet to the infolders, where they extend over theinturned edges of the blanks. In order to effect such suitably-powerfuldownward force upon the die or templet, a treadle may be employed as aconvenient powcr-a iiplying means. 1 represents such a treadle, and 7) pand Q represent suitable link and leverage connections between thetreadle l and the templetcarrving arm F. The link Q is preferably ahooked member adapted to engage a complementary projection upon the armF and a fixed roller (1 adapted to engage an inclined surface on therear of the ring Q surface as a means of effecting an operativeconnection between the parts Q and F when the treadle is lowered, thesame becoming automatically disengaged when the treadle is againreleased, so that the templet-carrying arm F may be elevated. A spring(1' may be employed to press the link Q toward the roller (7 to insure adisengagement of the parts Q and F.

The operation of the machine heretofore described may be as follows: Theoperator places one or more thicknesses of material constituting a blankupon the bed of the machine in a position in which the blades of theexpanded die or templet may be brought into contact with the blanks, theedge portions of the die plates resting directly upon the blanks uponthe bed and within the edge portions of the blanks. At this initialstage of the operation the infolders will be in their outward position.Having brought the expanded die into contact with the blanks, theoperator then moves the handle (Z to the position shown in Fig. 1herein, resulting in moving inwardly in succession the infolders totheir position shown in Fig. 1 and shown also in Fig. 2, with the resultof inturning the extending edges of the blanks over the edge portions ofthe dieplates. The next step will be to contract the die by means of thehandle J, so as to withdraw the plates therebf from within the folds ofthe blanks. After this the die or templet should be elevated andexpanded by means of the handle J and then lowered until the platesthereof rest upon the infolders, which latter are still in their inwardposition of Fig. i. The operator then gives an additional movement tothe left of the handle (Z, causing all of the infolders to move inwardlyto an additional extent, governed by the slant of the terminal portionof the cams e,to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The heavy portionof the templet now being above the infolders, the operator may press thetreadle l effecting an automatic engagement of the link Q with thetemplet-carrying arm F, and thereby transmitting to the die and throughthe infolders to the folds of the blanks'an effective creasing pressure.After this the operator may release the treadle, elevate the die, movethe in folders outwardly, and remove the blanks from the bed, when themachine will be in readiness for a second operation.

It is well known that it increases the efficiency of the creasingoperation by heating the bed upon which the pressing is accomplished,and l have shown the usual means for that purpose, consisting in asteam-pipe for admittingsteam to the hollow chamber within the bed.

Obviously some features of my invention may be used without others, andthe invention may be embodied in widely-varying forms. Therefore,without limiting the invention to the construction shown and describednor enumerating equivalents, 1 claim, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, the following:

1. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks tobe infolded; a

contracting and expanding templet having thin edge portions adapted tobear directly upon the blanks upon said support, and within edgeportions of the blanks, said templet having relatively strong and thickportions within said thin edge portions; infolders constructed andfitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edge portions of theblanks over edge portions of said templet, means for giving saidinfolders a still greater inward movement after contraction of saidtemplet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing said templet withthick and strong portions thereof directly above such infolders, andpressureapplying mechanism for forcing the said templet against the saidinfolders whereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between thesupport and infolders with a powerful creasing pressure.

2. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks tobe infolded; a contracting and expanding templet having thin edgeportions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, andwithin edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relativelystrong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; infoldersconstructed and fitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edgeportions of the blanks over edge portions of said templet, means forgiving said infolders a still greater inward movement after contractionof said templet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing saidtemplet with thick and strong por tions thereof directly above suchinfolders, and pressure-applying mechanism for forcing the said templetagainst the said infolders whereby the folds of the blanks may bepressed between the support and infolders witha powerful creasingpressure, said pressure-applying means comprising a treadle withconnections engaging with said templet during the pressing operation.

3. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks tobe infolded; a contracting and expanding templet having thin edgeportions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, andwithin edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relativelystrong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; infoldersconstructed and fitted to move inwardly and outwardly for folding edgeportions of the blanks over edge portions of said templet, means forgiving said infolders a still greater inward movement after contractionof said templet, means for elevating, expanding and depressing saidtemplet with thick and strong portions thereof directly above suchinfolders, and pressureapplying mechanism for forcing the said templetagainst the said infolders whereby the folds of the blanks may bepressed between the support and infolders with a powerful creasingpressure, said pressureapplying means comprising a treadle withconnections engaging with said templet during the pressing operation,and automatically disengaging therefrom on removal of pressure.

4. In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks tobe infolded; acontracting and expanding templet having thin edgeportions adapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, andwithin edge portions of the blanks, said templet having relativelystrong and thick portions within said thin edge portions; a templetraising and lowering arm, infolders constructed and fitted to moveinwardly and outwardly for folding edge portions of the blanks over edgeportions of said templet, means for giving said infolders a stillgreater inward movement after contraction of said templet, means forelevating, expanding and depressing said templet with thick and strongportions thereof directly above such infolders, and pressure-applyingmechanism for forcing the said templet against the said infolderswhereby the folds of the blanks may be pressed between the support andinfolders with a powerful creasing pressure.

In a folding-machine the combination of a support for the blanks to beinfolded; a contracting and expanding templet having thin edge portionsadapted to bear directly upon the blanks upon said support, and withinedge portions of the blanks, said templet having relatively strong andthick portions within said thin edge portions; a templet raising andlowering arm, infolders constructed and fitted to move inwardly andoutwardly for folding edge portions of theblanks over edge portions ofsaid templet, means for giving said infolders a still greater inwardmovement after contraction of said templet, means for elevating,expanding and depressing said templet with thick and strong portionsthereof directly above such infolders, and pressure-applying mechanismfor forcing the said templet against the said infolders whereby thefolds of the blanks may be pressed between the support and infolderswith a powerful creasing pressure, said pressure applying means beingautomatically engageable with and disengageable from said templetraising and lowering arm.

6. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outwardposition, an inward position reached during the fold-producingoperation, and a farther-inward position occupied during thefold-pressing operation; mechanism for effecting such movements of saidinfolders and pressure-exerting means operative through said infolderswhen in their last-named position.

7. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outwardposition, an inward position reached during the fold-producingoperation, and a farther-inward position occupied during thefold-pressing operation; in combination with mechanism for effectingsuch movements of said infolders; and a combined fold-defining andpressure-applying member.

8. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outwardposition, an inward position reached during the fold-producingoperation, and a farther-inward position occupied during thefold-pressing operation; in combination with mechanism for effectingsuch movements of said infolders; a combined fold-defining andinfolder-engaging member, a templet raising and lowering arm; andmechanism acting through said lastl named member for bringing about apowerful fold creasing pressure upon said infolders l while in theirsaid farther-inward position, to

lix the folds with a sharp crease.

9. In a folding-machine one or more infolders having a normal or outwardposition, an inward position reached during the fold-producingoperation, and a farther-inward position occupied during thefold-pressing operation; in combination with mechanism for effectingsuch movements of said infolders; a combined fold-defining andinfolder-engaging member, a templet raising and lowering arm; andmechanism acting th rough said last-named member for bringing about apowerful foldcreasing pressure upon said infolders while in their saidfarther-inward position, to fix the folds with a sharp crease, saidfold-defining and infolder-engaging member having thin edge portions andrelatively thick portions within said thin edge portions.

10. In an infolding-machine for cuff-blanks or like articles thecombination of a bed or support for the blanks to be infolded, a die ortemplet having thin edge portions for defining the folds of the blanks,and means for withdrawing said die from such folds and elevating itthereabove, infolders having one range of inward and outward movementfor folding edge portions of the blanks over edge portions of the die ortemplet, means for moving said folders to and from a farther-inwardposition after elevation of the die or templet, and pressure mechanismintermediate the support and die for producing a relative squeezingmovement while the infolders are in their said farther-inward position,whereby a powerful creasing pressure may be applied to the folds of theblanks while beneath said infolders, and the folds fixed with a sharpcrease.

11. An infolding-machine for cuff-blanks or analogous articlescomprising in combination, a blank-supporting member; a blank-definingmember, means for positioning said blankdelining member upon the blanksupon the support, for withdrawing it from the folds of the blanks, andfor moving it away from the blanks and support; infolders, means formoving said infolders inwardly for folding edge portions of the blanksover edge portions of the blank-defining member and returning themoutwardly therefrom, said infolders fitted also to receive afartherinward ing movement and subsequently to the withdrawal of saidfold-defining member from and its movement away from the support, butprior to the return outward movement of such infolders; and pressuremechanism for effecting a relative movement of the blank-supportingmember and blank-defining member toward each other while the saidinfolders are in their farthest-inward position, whereby the folds ofthe blanks may be pressed between the support and infolders with apowerful movement subsequently to their infold-formcreasing pressure andthereby fixed with a sharp crease.

12. In a folding-machine, in combination, a support for the blanks to beinfolded; infolders capable of slight vertical movement relatively tosaid support and having three positions namely, a normal outwardposition. a normal inward position and a farther or abnormal inwardposition; means for moving such infolders from and to each of saidpositions; a die having thin, blank-defining edge portions andrelatively thick portions within said thin edge portions, means formoving said die to and from the blanks on said support, and forexpanding and contracting said die; and pressure-applying mechanismcapable of forcing said die toward said support; whereby while the diein outward position rests upon the blanks the infolders may be movedfrom normal outward to normal inward position to produce folds; andsubsequently, after the die has been moved to inward position, and whilethe infolders are in abnormal inward position, and the die is in outwardposition above the infolders, the pressurc-applying mechanism may beactuated to cause the thick portions of the die to press forciblyagainst the infolders whereby the folds may be pressed between theinfolders and support with a powerful creasing pressure.

13. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and arelatively thin folddelining plate, an infolder, means for moving saidinfolder inward to a position between the stock portion of said die andsaid bed, and means for forcing said die toward said bed while saidinfolder is in such position.

1%. In a folding-machine, a bed, a contractible die having a stockportion and a relatively thin fold-defining plate, an infolder, meansfor withdrawing the blade of said die from the folded edge of a blank,means for moving said infolder inward to a position between the stockportion of said die and said bed, and means for forcing said die towardsaid bed while said infolder is in such position.

15. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die havinga stock portion and aplurality of relatively thin fold-defining plates, a plurality ofinfolders, means for moving said infolders inward to a fold producingposition, subsequently-operated means for moving said infolders outwardto a position between the stock portion of said die and said bed, andmeans for forcing said die toward said bed while said infolder is insuch last-named position.

16. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and aplurality of relatively thin fold-defining plates, a plurality ofinfolders, means for moving said infolders successively inward to afold-producing position, subsequently-operated means for synchronouslymoving said infolders inward to a position between the stock portion ofsaid die and said bed, and means for forcing said die toward said bedwhile said infolders are in such last-named position.

17. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and aplurality of relatively thin fold-defining plates, a plurality ofinfolders, a moving part, cams in said part, each engaging with one ofsaid infolders for moving said infolders successively inward to afold-producing position, and afterward inward to a position between saidstock portion of said die and said bed, and means for forcing said dietoward said bed while said infolders are in such last-named position.

18. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and arelatively thin folddefining plate, an infolder, means for moving saidinfolder inward to a position between the stock portion of said die andsaid bed, and a treadle detachably engageable with said die for forcingit toward said bed while said infolder is in such position.

19. In a folding-machine, a bed, a die having a stock portion and arelatively thin folddefining plate, an infolder, means for moving saidinfolder inward to a position between the stock portion of said die andsaid bed, and a treadle for forcing said die toward said bed while saidinfolder is in-such position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GARRY J. DORMANDY.

Witnesses:

E. O. I-IoUsE, E. H. House.

